• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2012

In order to develop a Patient respiratory management system includinga biofeedback function for4-dimentional radiation therapy, this study investigated anoptimal tracking algorithmfor moving target using IR (Infra-red) camera as well as commercial camera. A tracking system was developed by LabVIEW 2010. Motion phantom images were acquired using a camera (IR or commercial). After image process were conducted to convert acquired image to binary image by applying a threshold values, several edge enhance methods such as Sobel, Prewitt, Differentiation, Sigma, Gradient, Roberts, were applied. The targetpattern was defined in the images, and acquired image from a moving targetwas tracked by matching pre-defined tracking pattern. During the matching of imagee, thecoordinateof tracking point was recorded. In order to assess the performance of tracking algorithm, the value of score which represents theaccuracy of pattern matching was defined. To compare the algorithm objectively, we repeat experiments 3 times for 5 minuts for each algorithm. Average valueand standard deviations (SD) of score were automatically calculatedsaved as ASCII format. Score of threshold only was 706, and standard deviation was 84. The value of average and SD for other algorithms which combined edge detection method and thresholdwere 794, 64 in Sobel, 770, 101 in Differentiation, 754, 85 in Gradient, 763, 75 in Prewitt, 777, 93 in Roberts, and 822, 62 in Sigma, respectively. According to score analysis, the most efficient tracking algorithm is the Sigma method. Therefore, 4-dimentional radiation threapy is expected tobemore efficient if threshold and Sigma edge detection method are used together in target tracking.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.185-192
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• 1998

It is necessarily to evaluate the energy of X-ray emitted from linear accelerator in order to determine the accurate absorbed dose. The method of direct measurement for x-ray energy is very difficult and impractical. Therefore the method of using beam quality index is generally used. Several dosimetry protocols recommend the use of quality indices such as depth of dose maximum at radiation central axis, dose gradient, and dose level. The linear accelerator manufactures follow the recommendation as dosimetry protocols. The study was performed for us to select the most suitable parameter among the Quality indices as described above. For photon beams of 4, 6, 10, 15, and 21 MV nominal energies produced by four kinds of accelerators(Mitsubishi, Scanditronix, Siemens, Varian) in eleven institutions, We evaluated the x-ray energies obtained by the Quality indices as recommended by several dosimetry protocols and manufactures. Results showed that there were energy spreads according to the same accelerators and Quality indices even though nominal energies were same. It appeared that the percent depth dose at 10 cm (D$_{10}$(%)) gave the smallest deviation and spread of energies. As energies increased, the energy deviation increased for all the quality indices. It is desirable for the use of unified quality index to compare the evaluation of beam quality at different institutions.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2000

The signal transduction pathway for most neurotransmitter induced inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ channels in sympathetic neurons involves a G-protein mediated, membrane-delimited mechanism without the participation of any known protein kinase. However, activation of protein kinase C (PKC) has been proposed as one of the intracellular mechanisms mediating some neurotransmitter induced $Ca^{2+}$ channel inhibition. In the present study, we investigated the effects of phorbol-12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBu) on $Ca^{2+}$ channel currents of acutely dispersed neurons from adult rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons using whole cell variant of the patch clamp technique. PDBu (500 nM), the activator of PKC, increased $Ca^{2+}$ channel currents and retarded the deactivation of tail currents. The effects of PDBu were voltage dependent and the maximal increase in the current amplitudes was observed between -10 to 10 mV (n=4). PDBu attenuated $Ca^{2+}$ current inhibition induced by norepinephrine (NE), which modulates $Ca^{2+}$ channels via a pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive pathway. Inhibition of PDBu by staurosporine (1 $\mu$M) blocked the effects of PDBu on current amplitudes and NE-induced G-protein mediated inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ currents. Further experiment should be done to know if G-protein or $Ca^{2+}$ channel itself is the target of PKC phosphorvlation.phosphorvlation.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2000

For wedged photon beams, the variation of the wedge factor with field size was reported by several authors. However, until now such variation with field size had not been explained quantitatively. Therefore, the variation of the wedge factor was investigated by measuring outputs with field sizes increasing from 4 cm $\times$ 4 cm to 25 cm $\times$ 25 cm for open and wedged 6 and 10MV X-ray beams. The relative outputs for wedged fields to 10 cm $\times$ 10 cm have been obtained. The results show the Increase of the wedge factor caused by the change in fluence of high energy Photon beam with field size, up to 8.0% for KD77-6MV X-ray beam. This increase could be explained as a linear function of the irradiated wedge volume except small field size up to about 10 cm. In the cases of the narrow rectangular beam parallel to the wedge direction, the wedge factor decreases slightly with increasing field size up to about 10-15 cm due to a relatively reduced photon fluence from the change of the wedge thickness. We could explain the causes of a wedge factor variation with field size as the fluences of primary photon passed throughout the wedge, contributing to the dose at the central beam axis and that the fluences were affected by the gradient of the wedge with the change of field size. For clinical use, the formula developed to describe the wedge factor variation with field size has been corrected.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.241-246
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• 2008

Patient's respiration can have an effect on movement of tumor range and peripheral organs. Therefore, the respiratory signal was acquired by relation between external markers and movement of patient's abdomen during radiational therapy in order to minimize the effect of respiration. Based on this technique, many studies of rational therapy to irradiate at particular part of stable respiratory signals have executed and they have been clinically applied. Nevertheless, the phase-based method is preferred to the amplitude-based method for the rational therapy related to respiration. Because stabilization of the respiratory signal are limited. In this study, a in-house respiratory signal analysis program was developed for the phase reassignment and the analysis of the irregular respiratory signals. Various irregular respiratory patterns was obtained from clinical experimental volunteers. After then, the in-house program analyzed the factors affecting to phase assignment which is directly related to irradiated sector. Subsequently, accuracy of phase assignment was improved with removement of irregular signals by self-developed algorithm. This study is considered to be useful for not only image reconstruction and elevation of irradiating accuracy through phase assignment of RPM system but also analysis of respiratory signals. Moreover, development of 4D CT image is planed with phantom researches or clinical experiments based on this program.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2007

In the radiation therapy for breast cancer patients, wedge shaped compensators are essentially used to achieve appropriate dose distribution because of thickness difference according to breast shapes. Tangential Irradiation technique has usually been applied to radiation therapy for breast cancer patients treated with breast conservative surgery. When a primary beam is incident on wedge shaped compensators from medial direction In tangential irradiation technique, low energy scattered radiation is generated and gives additional dose to the breast surface. As a method to reduced additional dose to breast surface, the use of virtual wedge shaped compensator is possible. Eclipse radiation treatment planning (RTP) systems Installed at our institution have virtual wedge shaped compensator for radiation therapy treatment planning. The dose distributions of 15, 30, 45, 60 degree physical wedges and virtual wedges were measured and compared. Results showed that there was no significant differences In symmetry of $10{\times}10$ field among various wedge angles. When the transmission factor was compared, transmission factor Increased linearly as the wedge angle Increased. These results Indicates that the appilcation of virtual wedge in clinical use is appropriate.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.273-279
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• 2015

Recently, medical devices for a smart health development and dissemination are becoming increasingly frequent use of devices and their's thermal stability, durability, the external splendors are required. Industrial demand for smart health medical devices uses high-functioning electrodeposition technology that expressed pearl-like feeling is rapidly increasing. Generally, pearl powder is added to electrodeposition pigment in order to form a coating which shows pearl-like feeling. On the other hand, the electrodeposition technology for the smart health medical devices uses a new method that can express pearl-like feeling without using pearl powder. In this study, we was tried to find out the most appropriate texture formation, the right dilution recipe. We've tried various ptoportions of pigments (ED-600, ED-600S, ED-MX, ED-M). As a result, we found out that ED-600 and ED-MX (15% solid) in appropriate concentration showed the best adherence rate. By several samples tests and experiments which include washing the fixed pigment in various temperature levels ($20{\sim}40^{\circ}C$) and drying, we were able to get the best results in drying condition of $180{\pm}10^{\circ}C$ and $30{\pm}5min$. The research showed that it is mush more competitive and cost effective to use the new method that produces natural pearl-like feeling on the surface than to add pearl powder to high-functioning electrodeposition pigment, which is a method that has been used for the smart health medical devices so far.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.232-239
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• 2005

Research outputs of science and engineering fields including Earth Science were analyzed using KOSEF's Database. A total $312(1.5\%)$ Geoscientists participated in KOSEF's Database, and the number of articles they published in SCI (Science Citation Index) journals and Non-SCI journals during the last five years (1999 to 2003) was $1,026(0.2\%)\;and\;3,265(0.5\%)$, respectively. The average number of articles per capita published in SCI journals during the last five years was 3.3 in Geoscience, 4.0 in Mathematics, 57.6 in Physics, 60.4 in Chemistry, and 33.4 in Biology. The average number of articles per capita published in SCI journals within Geoscience was 9.6 in Environmental Geology, 4.6 in Stratigraphy and Sedimentology, 4.2 in Geochemistry, 3.6in Hydrology, 3.5 in Oceanography, and 3.2 in Mining Geology. The results of this survey will be used as a reference in comparing research outputs of Earth Science and other sciences, both in quality and quantity.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2002

In this work, EPM (effective point of measurement) of parallel plate ionization chamber with three different spacing were investigated. If the plate separation is less than 2 mm one generally assumes that the effective point of measurement is just behind the front window of the parallel plate ionization chamber. For chamber with relatively large separation, such as the ones used for very accurate exposure measurements, this assumption breaks down and the EPM depends on plate separation and thickness of the front window. For parallel plate chambers, conventional theoretical analyses suggest that the EPM is the inner front wall and that it shifts towards the geometric centre of the chamber as the plate separation increases. The PP-IC (parallel plate ionization chamber) is fabricated using acrylic plate for the chamber medium and printed circuit board for electrical configuration. The various sizes of the sensitive volumes designed so far are 0.9, 1.9, and 3.1 cc. The gap between two electrodes ranges from 3, 6, and 10mm. Also the charge-to-voltage converter is designed to collect the electrons produced in the ionization chamber cavity. As the result of our experiment, the EPM shift was within 0.6 mm in photon beams and 0.4 mm to 2.5 mm in electron beams for the plate separation of 6 mm and 10 mm. EPM shifts towards the geometric center of the chamber as the plate separation increases.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.125-131
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• 1999

T$_1$/T$_2$ weighted images are being used to give the characteristic contrast among the various tissues and the norma;/abnormal tissues. Abnormalities in tissues, in general, accompany the biochemical changes and eventually structural ones in which results in the change in T$_1$ and T$_2$ relaxation times of water protons. It has been suggested that the mapping of T$_1$/T$_2$ values may serve as a possible tool for the quantitative evaluation of the degree of abnormality. On reconstructing T$_1$/T$_2$ maps(or any other MR parametric map), only corresponding variables are to be varied, such as TE for T$_2$, TI or TR for T$_1$ and b-factor for diffusion images. But often the receiver gain is taken for the optimal usage of A/D converter, so that the set of the image data has different receiver gain. It must be corrected before any attempt to reconstruct the maps. Here we developed method of correcting receiver gain variation effect, using the standard deviation of noise on individual image. The resultant T$_1$ and T$_2$ values were very comparable to the other reported values.